Advantages: Unique cross-over looks and styling, fairly good road handling and sensible pricing will make the Juke appeal to buyers that are not smitten by the more conventional vehicles within the small car market.

Disadvantages: The dashboard fascia may seem a little ‘cheap’ in finish. The ride may be a little too firm for uk roads and the steering a little average.

Summary: A sensibly priced, fun-looking model that may just repeat the Qashquai’s success in the small car market.

25-July-2011 New NISSAN JUKE Deals (1.6 Acenta 5d CVT [Premium Pack])“Early days for our Nissan Juke Acenta 1.6 CVT are very encouraging. Only 500 miles covered so far so new real statistics with regard to fuel consumption. We are also trying to keep revs down for the first 1,000 miles as advised in the user manual.
The finish of the Force Red colour is very good and this has been even more improved by the addition of Diamondbrite treatment by a local contractor which is about half the price of a dealer option.
If I have a concern it is that the CVT auto box seems to easily rev high without any significant related performance enhancement.”

Instead of a straight crossover the Juke seamlessly blends the looks of the SUV with a sports car character allowing the Nissan Juke to fill a gap in this already competitive market. Nissan hopes that this unique modelling will allow the Juke to repeat the success of Nissan’s other model, the Qashqai.

The Juke’s design makes the Juke seem bigger than it actually is. There is easily enough interior space to allow for 2 adults to comfortably fit in the back. Nissan’s adventurous sense of styling extends to the cabin, where the main console was reputedly modelled on a motorbike’s fuel tank.

The majority of the Jukes will be sold utilising Nissan’s conventional front-wheel drive chassis, but the car will also be available with a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system, allowing torque vectoring traction control and multi-link rear suspension rather than the standard torsion beam.

The Juke has no off-roading pretensions. This has allowed Nissan to concentrate on keeping the center of gravity low and limiting body roll in fast corners. As a result the car handles better than expected for a high-sided model. Although not a sports car either, the Juke’s wider track and firm suspension at least makes a quick progress a reasonable prospect.

Pace is assured by the brand new 187bhp 1.6-liter DIG-T petrol engine allowing it to stand up to a number of its rivals such as the forthcoming Mini Countryman, the car closest to the Juke in concept and pricing. A less powerful engine is also available as well as the 1.5dCI diesel, which fits nicely with the Juke’s temperament better than expected.

Nissan has cast the Juke in its own little niche and while some of its competitors drive and look conventionally better, the Juke’s distinctiveness may appeal to people in a way that some of the other vehicles in this market don’t.